Bike From Scratch

I’m taking a frame building class in February! I’m pretty excited and it should be a good time. I’m taking the class from Doug Fattic. My plan is to build a road go fast / all day rider kind of bike. Something with road angles, and maybe slightly longer than normal chain stays. The bike will be completely “joy ride” focused, no tabs on the drop outs for fenders or racks, no attachment points on the seat stays and forkq. The plan is for it to replace my Specialized Allez as its starting to show its age. I’m thinking I’ll have a slightly longer head and top tubes and less drop than the Allez. I like the notion of a sloping top tube, but we will see how difficult that is to do. I can’t make up my mind between lugged and fillet brazed. I have both options, so I will have to decide before the class starts I guess. I’d really like to do bi laminate joints, but I am pretty sure that’s too difficult for my first time out.

So far I’ve have a few emails back and forth with Doug. He sent out information describing what materials and recommendations he has for beginners. He also sent out a form asking about what components we will be using. So far I’ve settled on SRAM Red and 3T bars and stem.

I plan to build my own wheels again, I’m thinking the new Chris King Swift hubs when they are available laced to Mavic Open Pro rims. Probably using some kind of bladed spoke because I’ve wanted to try building with those for awhile now. Maybe with radial lacing… The new hubs from King seem like a pretty great deal, they have fewer contact points than the Classic hubs so they will be a bit more quiet. It sounds like they have the same King reliability and adjustment as the classic hubs. They also come in all 10 colors.

All in all it should be a good time. Learn to build a bike, for roughly the same price it would take me to get a custom. I’m sure it won’t be as nice as picking up an Ira Ryan or Sachs but it will be mine and built (mostly I suspect) by me.